Ahrweiler: Roman Era, Town Wall and Marksmen’s Tradition

Town History and Marksmen’s Tradition

Ahrweiler’s old town features a town wall dating from the 13th century, four town gates, narrow lanes and half-timbered houses. The town fortifications and gates date back to the period from 1246 onwards. Of the four gates, the Ahrtor is the largest and most strongly fortified. Together, these features highlight the town’s history: its fortifications, gates and old-town buildings each tell a different part of the story.

The Haus der Schützen (Marksmen’s House) in Ahrweiler offers a different perspective. The museum displays art-historical treasures from the past three centuries, including uniforms, photographic documentation and historic marksmen’s rifles. It has been run by the three Ahrweiler marksmen’s societies since 2002. Visits and guided tours are available by appointment and can be arranged for groups of eight or more. If you would like to visit the Haus der Schützen, be sure to arrange your visit in advance.

Roman Domestic Life and a Look Underground

The Roman Villa at Silberberg in Ahrweiler brings a Roman country estate to life with a model and an audiovisual presentation. In the municipality of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, a largely accessible route takes visitors through Roman rooms. The exhibition includes well-preserved walls, a bathing facility, a kitchen and fully preserved underfloor heating systems. These examples offer a glimpse into different aspects of Roman domestic life and its technical features. Guided tours are also available for groups, providing an overview of the history of the archaeological find.

The Documentation Centre Government Bunker in the municipality of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler offers a very different historical experience. Of the entire 17.3-kilometre facility, 203 metres can still be visited today as a documentation centre. An approximately 90-minute tour leads through underground areas and offers insights into original locations and stories from that time. Topics covered include nuclear arms build-up, espionage, secret NATO plans and scenarios for a Third World War. The site welcomes groups, school classes and individual visitors. To join one of the scheduled tours for individual visitors, you must book a ticket in advance through the online shop.

Green Space and Trails in the Ahrweiler District

The Stadtoase offers a different kind of place to spend time: a space for socialising and relaxation near the centre of the Ahrweiler district. The green space is lined with chestnut trees and features planting designed to benefit insects. Other features include a pavilion with a green roof, a table tennis table and numerous benches.

The Ahrweiler district offers a variety of hiking trails to choose from, including the certified Rheinburgenweg, Eifelleiter and AhrSteig trails, the Rotweinwanderweg (Red Wine Trail), and numerous marked local trails. The AhrSteig connects the Ahr spring near Blankenheim in the Eifel with the Ahr’s confluence with the Rhine near Sinzig in seven stages. The Rotweinwanderweg runs for around 36 kilometres between Bad Bodendorf and Altenahr. Above the districts of Bad Neuenahr and Ahrweiler, sections of the Rotweinwanderweg can be used with a pushchair.

For cycling, the Ahrweiler district also lists the Rhine Cycle Route and the Ahr Cycle Route as options that are particularly popular with cycling tourists. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider which town or village best suits the routes you would like to explore during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Adenau, Remagen, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Bad Breisig, Altenahr, Barweiler, Grafschaft, Sinzig, Brohltal, Harscheid, Leimbach, Brohl-Lützing, Kalenborn, Wimbach.

Go to the main travel overview: Rhineland-Palatinate.